Imagine being 11 years old. In a bid to control just a part of your life you build a wall of silence around yourself. However, soon the silence that protected you becomes an entity unto itself and it becomes your jailor.This beautiful novel portrays a family in crisis. Dad Wilson and mum Ruth have no explanation for thier daughter Isabelle's self imposed silence, and trying to find a reason is slowly tearing them apart, both as individuals and as a couple.Isabelle herself is in turmoil, knowing she could end her parent's pain but feeling unable to.This novel really made me think about what it would be like to be in Isabelle's situation, and scary as it is I can just imagine how easy it is just to say nothing, and before you know it nine months have gone by without a word being uttered. December is one of the best books that I've read this year. Amazing and beautiful Chosen for its title alone – DECEMBER is Winthrop’s second novel but the first I have read. Set in the week leading up to Christmas DECEMBER is not an edge of the seat read; it is not in your face dramatic either; what it IS is a sensitive observation of how each of the three main characters deals with Isabella’s self imposed silence. It is also not so much a look at why she has chosen to be silent, although that is hinted at, it is more about that she IS silent and she has imposed the silence on herself and doesn’t know how to break it. The story also focuses on the frustrations of the parents – the desire to hear her speak, the blame games, the guilt trips and the fact that they realise that they may be actually enabling Isabella to continue. A trigger is needed, but neither mum and dad nor Isabella can figure out what that trigger might be. My only complaint is that the ending, when it came, was rushed, as if the author was enjoying her time in the heads of the family and remembered oops there had better be some sort of resolution.
What do You think about Dezembro (2011)?
A bit disappointed with this book, not much happens, and by the end I wasn't really bothered...
—lilnicole
This didn't live up to it's promise for me. A sad tale that never really went anywhere.
—Shiva
this was a good book, a little anti-climactic for me but very good writing.
—maxine
didnt like this at all. Girl with selective mutism. boring :(
—Chia
